Cooling tank for domestic refrigerator systems



Oct. 27, 1931. F. G. SLAGEL COOLING TANK FOR DOMESTIC REFRIGERATOR SYSTEMS Filed Oct.

F. G. SLAGEL 1,829,375

COOLING TANK FOR DOMESTIC REFRIGERATOR SYSTEMS Oct. 27, 1931.

Filed Oct. 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J7 i-forn 6.6/6

' mama-a 21, 1 31 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANKLIN G. SLAGEL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YO RK, ASSIGNOR, BY HESNE ASSIGNIENTS, TO FBIGIDAIBE COBFOBATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COOLING TANK FQR DOMESTIC REFRIGERATOR SYSTEMS Applicationjled October 1,- 1925. Serial No. 59,764. i

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerating elements for domestic refrigsystems. These systems are of the eration compression type wherein-the liquid refrigerative medium is circulated directly through a cooling. unit or a series of cooling units in which it expands into gaseous form and withdraws heat from the environment.

The cooling elements are employed both to chill the compartments of the ice box or refrigerator in which they are arranged and also for the production of small cubes of icewhich may be readily removed for various purposes of domestic use.

The invention consists generally in a refrigerating element having a jacket formed integrally with the wall of an internal chamber and divided by ribs integral with its inner and outer walls into a series of compartments through which the liquid refrigerative medium circulates, the outer wall of the jacket being externally ribbed. The cooling element thus characterized is strong and compact and presents, with reference to its total size, a large amount of wall surface to the refrigerative medium. Thus the present element, as compared with known constructions of corresponding size, uses a' smaller amount of liquid refrigerative medium and is more economical in this respect, requires less time for char g, minimizes refrigeration losses and requires less time for its work. A further advantage which is of particular importance in apartment house installations where local ordinances limit the amount of refrigerant which may be contained in a single system, is that a greater number of cooling elements may be operated on a single line than has heretofore been possible, thus reducing both installation and upkeep costs.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: s

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved cooling element;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 44 of Figure 2. L

The coolin element is formed with an ice making cham r 1 havin a top wall 2, a bottom 3, side walls 4 and a rear wall (not shown) which is preferably removably secured. The chamber 1 contains trays 5 (indicated by broken lines) having compartments in which the cubes of ice are molded, these trays being of the usual construction. The ice making chamber may, of course, have capacity for any suitable number of trays, two of such trays being provided for in the construction shown. The lowermost tray rests on or adjacent the bottom and any other trays are supported by ledges 6 formed on the walls 4.

The chamber 1 is provided with a jacket through which the refrigerative medium circulates. The inner walls of the jacket are constituted by the walls of the chamber and its outer walls consist of a bottom wall 7 adjacent the bottom 3, side walls 8 adjacent the side walls 4, and a top wall 9 adjacent the top wall 2, the jacket being completed by front and rear end walls 10 and 11. The wall 9is fashioned to rovide a chamber 12 into which the liquid rei rigerative medium is admitted and in which it is'maintained at a substantially constant level, the top wall 2 of chamber 1 constituting the bottom of the chamber 12 and the end walls thereof being incor rated with the end walls of the jacket. he end walls of the chamber 12 are provided with openings through'which access may be had to the enclosed parts and these openings are closed by removable front and rear heads 13 and 14; (shown in broken lines) which are secured by fastening screws or otherwise suitably. The valves for the admission of the refri erative medium in liquid form to the cham er l2 and its escape in the form of gas or vapor from said chamber are conveniently carried by the head 13 and are shown in broken lines, the inlet valve being designated 15 and communicating with said chamber near its bottom and the exhaust valve being designated 16 and communicating with said chamber near its upper end. The valve 15 is controlled by a suitable float 17 by which the liquid in the chamber 12 is maintained substantially at a constant level.

The jacket constituted as above described is divided into a suitable number of circulation passages or chambers 18 which are open at their ends to the chamber 12 and, in com nection with the same, completely encircle the chamber 1. The passages 18 are preferably parallel and are provided by partitions 19 which are integrally joined to the inner and outer walls of the jacket. The outer side walls of the jacket are formed with vertical ribs 20 which increase the extent oi the surface presented to the surrounding environment and promote the efficiency of the cooling element in absorbing heat from the en- 1 vironment, The partitions 19 are preferably co-planar with the ribs 20 so that continuous paths for the absorption of the heat units are provided. Lugs 21 are cast between the end ribs and adjacent jacket wall at each side of the element and serve for the attachment of supporting legs 22. The chambers 18 are formed in their lower portions with threaded openings 23 which are closed by suitable plugs (shown in broken lines) and throughwhich the jacket may be flushed from time to time 7 It will be noted that the evaporator de scribed includes a single integralmetallic' member, the parts of which form the freezing chamber 1, the reservoir for iiquid refrigerant 12, the refrigerant circulating passages surrounding the freezing chamber (walls 7, 8 and 9, partitions 19) and ribs 20.

The division of the jacket into circulating chambers reduces the space through which the liquid circulates, increases the-areas upon which the liquid acts in withdrawing heat from the environment and also increases the extent of material available for the storage of I cold. Thereby the cooling element uses a smaller amount of liquid refrigerative medium as compared with known tanks of simi lar size, requires less time for charging and for the work, minimizes refrigeration losses and is very compact. 1

Having fiully described my invention. I claim:

A refrigerant evaporator adapted to be placed in a domestic refrigerator comprising an integral casting having an ice making 3 chamber therein, a liquid receiving chamber above said ice making chamber, the walls about said ice making chamber being hollow and forming a jacket, integral partitions dividing said jacket into a plurality of ducts communicating with said liquid receiving chamber, and ribs integral with and external to said jacket and adjacent and parallel to said ducts.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

FRANKLIN GE SLAGEL. 

